So the lake effect storm has tapered off for now. Sunday, my son asked for a ride from the YMCA to his frien's so we decided to explore a little of the city in the aftermath of 41" of snow. The first video shows State Street and the size of the snow banks. We turned down a side street on the way home after dropping off David to see what Thompson Park looked like. Parents had taken their kids to slide on the hill. The snow, now just a fine mist continued to fall. The third video is of Thompson Blvd. The banks are still high and there is talk of where to put all the snow. Watertown has received over 145" so far this Winter. Tug Hill Plateau has gotten more than 227" and it only the first week of February. Newzjunky, our local online news source has carried some of the photos submitted by the residents in the area. Some guy in Rodman, posted a picture of his truck along side a 12' snow bank outside of Watertown near the Tug Hill. The photos can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/newzjunky The last video is of Saturday night while the storm was still happening. The forecast for Watertown, NY, this week? More snow. No surprises here. Cliff Olney in Watertown, NY

Lucky for California there is a blizzard on the Mountain (Mammoth Mountain). Check out my video where I speak with the Mammoth Mountain operations manager, Sierra Nevada Resort rooms director, and Rafters Restaurant manager.

The mountains, vibrant green fields and fruitful groves of California are facing one of the driest years in the state's history. California Governor Jerry Brown declared on January 17 that the state was in a drought emergency. He said the state is facing "perhaps the worst drought that California has ever seen since records (began) about 100 years ago."

Adbandoned from the store, but not exactly abandoned, this shopping cart, along with various other items, was locked up with a heavy duty chain to a bike stand. It may be the 'mobile' home of a homeless person on the streets of NYC. No one was in the area, so no indication of who it may belong to. But based on the appearance, it is definitely 'owned' by someone.

Hopefully the owner has found some shelter indoors, away from the winter elements outdoors.

Circassians gather on Russian Federation Consulate General in Istanbul to protest against the Sochi 2014 Olympics. Genocide is a crime against humanity exile, 'We do not want the Olympics in Sochi' written placards and flags opened Circassia